Part One: A Meeting for Fire
Location: The Black Stone Hall — Palace of the Kingdom of Gold
Attendees:
Seth, Prime Minister
Kaiden, the Black Knight
Van, the Emperor
Senior Frontline Commanders
Envoy of the Kingdom of Peace
A massive map of the West and South continents hung on the wall.
Seth stood before the oval table, tossed aside his black cloak, and began:
"The South thinks it is safe… we will prove otherwise."
He pointed with a metal rod at the heart of the map, saying:
**"The Kingdom of Wei is fortified by three lines:
1. Coastal cities.
2. Eastern forests.
3. The capital surrounded by swamps."**
"We will divide the attack into three waves:
Kaiden, you lead the naval assault on the small ports.
The Peace army, led by Niren, will penetrate the forests with secret support from the elite of Gold.
I… will lead the strangulation operation: cutting supply routes and blowing up the trade roads behind the capital."**
One of the commanders raised his voice:
"Sir Seth, we face a kingdom that knows this land better than we do!"
Seth smiled and replied coldly:
"And I know betrayal better than them… I was raised on it."
Then he turned to Van and said:
"Give me thirty days… and I'll bring you the capital kneeling."
---
Van said nothing… he only nodded, then slammed his royal dagger on the table and said:
"The countdown begins."
---
⚔️ Part Two: The Throne of Wei — When the News Arrived
Location: Throne of the Kingdom of Wei — Southern Shadows Castle
The King: Tai-Zo, ruler of the Kingdom of Wei
Beside him: his secret advisers — and the chief priest of divination
A spy hurried in and knelt before the throne:
"My lord... Van declared war.
He reinstated Niren as queen and married her officially.
Worse… the child born alive… is now called the Sword of the Empire."
A terrifying silence filled the hall.
The king's fingers trembled, then he struck the wall with his mace, saying:
"She should have been killed… at birth!"
The adviser replied:
"You wanted to send terror, but you brought them glory."
Tai-Zo stood and said harshly:
"Prepare the priests… we will use them."
"We will open the forbidden vault and awaken the 'Oath of Silence.'"
Everyone froze.
Someone whispered:
"But my lord… the priests warned us… whoever uses it loses his mind!"
He shouted:
"Van set the earth ablaze for a woman…
I will burn the skies for the throne."
Then whispered in the dark:
"Niren… you will regret not dying."